Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Adam pushed himself out of the rubble and dusted his chest with a smile.

The leisure fight he had expected wouldn't happen. Instead, Coyle might be a bigger threat than the eldritchs with his venom, sharp mind, and strength. But it was still fine. He just had to change the order of the event to ensure he got everything he wanted.

A sharp glint flashed in his eye as they widened. His legs suddenly trembled as his face distorted in despair in a pathetic sight of shattered confidence.

"T-This power." He dropped to his knees, hair cascading down his lowered face. "I can't defeat you and know you won't spare me."

Coyle frowned. What was this all about? He gazed at his spotless claws, confusion deepening. He hadn't even landed a hit yet. But Adam gave up?

Suspicious, he remained silent, his focused gaze scanning the talking devil and surroundings.

"We both came from Earth. You know not anyone can endure this world's cruelty, Coyle... I've spent five years—five torturous years—to reach the last layer." Adam leaned forward, his shoulders slumped and arms dangling without strength. "I pushed through the solitude and bloodshed, hoping to find an exit that probably doesn't exist. I'm tired of all this shit."

Was he for real? Coyle couldn't help but doubt. Every lord knew Adam's pride and prestige through the chat. In fact, he had even looked up to him before Ahriman contracted him. Would a man like him, who claimed the first place in both events despite the gods' cheating, kneel before him?

He rolled his eyes, a disgusting smile splitting his three faces. Somehow, he loved it—the sight of a broken model, the confirmation he had surpassed him to stand at the top.

His heads leaned back as he exploded into laughter, and his tail whipped the ground in amusement. "Trying to get me sentimental? Hahaha! You're right, though. I won't spare you, and the Greatest Imp is next on the list."

Adam rolled his eye behind his messy hair. Those people were all the same—show them what they want, and they'd start spouting bullshit. And here would come the first information he needed.

"I just need to increase my army size and widen the exit." Coyle continued, his voice delighted. "Five more years. No, two should be enough if I speed things up."

Adam's eye dimmed. 'The exit isn't wide enough to allow passage?' He felt a sharp pain slice through his heart. But he understood that after billions of years, space had recovered. At least it could be expanded, so hope wasn't lost.

He sighed as Coyle's stomps upturned the melted slabs in a perverted march toward him.

"I have one question. Please, send me off with this mystery resolved." Without letting Coyle answer, he continued. "I've seen flames burning in braziers on my journey down the layers. What are they used for? Did you find one in this layer?"

Coyle froze, a pensive frown creasing his brows. "Why would mere flames interest you?"

Adam tilted his head slightly before realisation struck him. 'He doesn't know? Shit...'

About to break the masquerade, Coyle's next words threw his mood down the gutter.

"I do have a brazier in the throne room, but it's empty and can't be lit. I always wondered what purpose it could have served." Coile grinned. "Thank you for informing me that those above are still burning."

"Empty? Did someone claim it?" Adam murmured, the weight of the disappointment causing his shoulders to slump. Would he never learn what abilities the last flame had? At least the others offered him enough knowledge to master plasma and potent passives. But still... something told him that this one dwarfed them in power and versatility.

Simultaneously, Coyle resumed his march and towered above him. "You got your answer. Die without regret and fuel my growth."

He raised his hand, purple miasma enveloping his claws as his devious grin widened. What taste would Adam's brain have? It would surely be a delicacy.

As he brought his claws down, avoiding the head carefully, Adam's voice suddenly echoed.

"Sure. I'll bury you in a nice field and watch nature grow out of you."

His blade flashed up, meeting the claws with a deafening CLANG. He groaned as his bones shattered under the pressure. Yet, a smirk split his face as he stepped out of the way and placed his palm over Coyle's void-colored scales.

"Humph. Who would have thought you stooped low enough to use deceptions?" Coyle snorted. "Bring it on. Your flames can't wound me. I'm stronger and as fast as you—you have no chance!"

Adam smirked as scarlet plasma burst on his palm. What low? He had always picked the strategy that would bring the best result. With no subjects or examples to show, lying got him the answers he needed... and removed his need to hold back.

After all, he hadn't really used the remnants except for the passive devouring blaze and ember of lingering.

And at this very moment, every single fire source in the city left its container. They dissolved into the wind and rushed to his palm, the heat vaporising atoms. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

Simultaneously, his suppressed rage flared with the ferocity of a scalding beast finally escaping its cage. Yet, instead of muddling his thoughts, it fueled the plasma further, causing space to warp, as if reality would soon melt.

Coyle's eyes widened in horror as his three heads lunged to stop Adam. He couldn't let this strike hit him.

The venom dripping from his fangs sprayed on Adam's pale skin before they sank into his sides and shoulders. Soft flesh parted, the muscles sizzling and melting as blood filled his mouths. Yet, the laugh he wanted to let out caught in his throat and dread's icy fingers gripped his heart.

Quickly, he tried to jerk his heads to dismember Adam.

"Too late."

With the grunted words, the plasma erupted. A thin beam, the size of a thread, slammed on the scales, melting them in the blink of an eye.